Open AccessThe genome of the endangered Macadamia jansenii displays little diversity but represents an important genetic resource for plant breeding
Author(s) -
Sharma Priyanka,
Murigneux Valentine,
Haimovitz Jasmine,
Nock Catherine J.,
Tian Wei,
Kharabian Masouleh Ardashir,
Topp Bruce,
Alam Mobashwer,
Furtado Agnelo,
Henry Robert J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plant direct
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.211
H-Index - 11
ISSN - 2475-4455
DOI - 10.1002/pld3.364
Subject(s) - biology , proteaceae , genome , reference genome , comparative genomics , domestication , genetic diversity , sequence assembly , whole genome sequencing , endangered species , genetics , genomics , evolutionary biology , gene , botany , ecology , demography , sociology , population , transcriptome , gene expression , habitat
Macadamia, a recently domesticated expanding nut crop in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, is one of the most economically important genera in the diverse and widely adapted Proteaceae family. All four species of Macadamia are rare in the wild with the most recently discovered, M. jansenii , being endangered. The M. jansenii genome has been used as a model for testing sequencing methods using a wide range of long read sequencing techniques. Here, we report a chromosome level genome assembly, generated using a combination of Pacific Biosciences sequencing and Hi‐C, comprising 14 pseudo‐molecules, with a N50 of 52 Mb and a total genome assembly size of 758 Mb of which 56% is repetitive. Completeness assessment revealed that the assembly covered −97.1% of the conserved single copy genes. Annotation predicted 31,591 protein coding genes and allowed the characterization of genes encoding biosynthesis of cyanogenic glycosides, fatty acid metabolism, and anti‐microbial proteins. Re‐sequencing of seven other genotypes confirmed low diversity and low heterozygosity within this endangered species. Important morphological characteristics of this species such as small tree size and high kernel recovery suggest that M. jansenii is an important source of these commercial traits for breeding. As a member of a small group of families that are sister to the core eudicots, this high‐quality genome also provides a key resource for evolutionary and comparative genomics studies.